BANGKOK, Thailand – Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Somdet Phra Pinklao Hospital, under the Naval Medical Department in Bangkok, to preside over the inauguration of the Thotsamabophit Building and view a special exhibition on naval medical care on August 16, 2026. During the auspicious ceremony, His Majesty the King unveiled the building’s signboard, bearing the graciously bestowed name “Thotsamabophit,” in honor of His Majesty the King.
The new 14-story inpatient facility was built to meet the growing demand for medical care among military personnel and civilians. Covering over 20,300 square meters, it features smart medical support systems and 228 beds, including 184 general and 44 critical or semi-critical beds. The facility is designed to deliver specialized care for internal medicine and complex diseases, ensuring patients receive rapid, safe, and high-quality treatment.
After religious ceremonies and the presentation of souvenirs to benefactors, Their Majesties toured a six-zone exhibition highlighting royal compassion and medical advancements. The exhibition featured His Majesty’s donation of 80 million baht to naval hospitals for advanced medical equipment and COVID-19 relief. It also showcased progress in tactical and field medicine, the hyperbaric oxygen therapy center, an advanced eye center supporting low-income patients, and the introduction of the Hugo RAS robotic surgery system, the first of its kind in a Ministry of Defence hospital, which enhances surgical precision and reduces recovery times. The visit concluded with Their Majesties signing the hospital’s guestbook and taking commemorative photographs with senior government officials, Royal Thai Navy executives, and hospital administrators before departing. (NNT)
